Best Car Alarm Systems

‍1. CompuStar CS7900-AS

The CompuStar CS7900-AS is an easy-to-use alarm system that has many features for both novice and professional installers. It works with most factory remote entry systems, making it compatible with some of the most popular car makes on the market.

The CompuStar CS7900-AS also has several cool features, including a shock sensor that will trigger the alarm if someone tampers with the vehicle while it's running or hot-wired to an accessory source, but this is not your traditional shock sensor. The shock sensor will also turn on the power and sound the siren if someone moves it or changes its position while in valet mode. That way, they know not to mess with your car when you update your settings.

This car alarm system has an impressive range of about 3000ft line of sight and is less likely to lose reception even when traveling through thick metal buildings and garages like a large shopping mall. The included LCD remote control features four buttons, each of which has a different LED color. And it can be carried in your pocket for quick arm and disarm capabilities.

When I first opened the box, I noticed how large the key fob was. It measures about 5 1/2" x 2 3/4". The red LCD backlight is very bright and makes this unit clearly visible in daylight situations. Most car alarm LCD displays are hard to read when you're outside because they aren't backlit. However, this one has a lighted display that makes it very easy to see even in direct sunlight.

The CS7900-AS offers two different arming modes; panic and valet mode. Panic mode will allow you to activate the alarm via the 2-way LCD remote without sounding the horn. On the other hand, valet mode is a silent arming mode that only triggers the alarm via shock sensor or interior motion sensor if tampered with after being armed. This eliminates false chirps if someone accidentally bumps into your car while you're leaving it.

The only downside to this car alarm system is its complex installation. There are over thirty-two wires that will need to be connected and almost as many wires on the control modules.

If you're looking for an advanced car alarm that can be installed without any help or special tools, then this might not be the best fit for you. However, if you are semi-handy and maybe know someone who can help with installation, then, by all means, go ahead and give it a try.

Overall, we are very impressed with the CompuStar CS7900-AS. This car alarm is packed with security and convenience features such as a motion sensor, shock sensor, starter kill relay, pre-wired siren, and much more. And it has an LCD remote that can control many functions, including blowing your horn, flashing your parking lights, and opening/closing your trunk. This system can be purchased for $200 on Amazon.

Key Features

• 105 dB Siren
• Shock sensors
• 2-way key-less entry
• 3000 ft range

Pros

• Programmable features for added security
• Can support two vehicles at a time
• Multiple arming methods
• Excellent range
• Great value for money.

Cons

• Complex installation
• Additional equipment required for all features to function properly.

2. Viper 350 PLUS 3105V

The Viper brand is renowned for creating some of the best car alarms on the market, and there are currently five models of Viper car alarm systems that can be found here.

The Viper 350 PLUS 3105V is one of their more expensive units featuring some amazing features. This unit comes with two 3-channel remotes, which provide 1500 feet of range and full one-way control functions.

This unit has a few different arming functions, such as remote arming, manual arming, or even motion sensor-based arming. The motion sensor will arm itself once it detects movement inside your vehicle, which is great for those who forget to set their alarm before leaving their car outside. You'll never miss another opportunity to set your alarm again.

As soon as I took this car alarm system out of the box, I could tell that it was an upgrade from most entry-level alarms. You can see all the buttons and features on the remote right away. This key fob is almost identical to a real car remote, so if someone sees or hears you arm/disarm your car, they'll never know it's actually an alarm remote.

Another cool feature of this car alarm system is its engine immobilization. The Viper 350 PLUS 3105V uses a rolling code technology, which means that its signal changes with every button press. This prevents people from capturing your remote's signal and trying to break into your car themselves.

The siren found on this system can synchronize with the car horn for a more dramatic effect when arming or disarming the alarm. Furthermore, it also features a failsafe starter kill relay to prevent thieves from trying to steal your car when the alarm is activated.

The only thing that I found to be a bit lacking with this car alarm was its one-way functionality. You can't actually send commands back to the car from your remote. For example, if you flash your lights, they'll turn on, but you won't be able to use the buttons on your remote to control them.

All in all, this is one of the best car alarm systems available. It's easy to install, looks very professional, and comes with an excellent range of features. You can pick up the Viper 350 PLUS 3105V for less than $200 on Amazon.

Key Features

• Two remotes included
• 1500 ft range
• Engine immobilization
• Failsafe starter kill

Pros

• Excellent range between remotes and car alarm system
• Looks very professional
• Comes with two remotes
• Control windows and keyless entry
• Engine immobilization is great for preventing car theft

Cons

• One-way control functionality means limited control of your car
• A tad expensive

3. AVITAL 5305L

Avital has been making some quality car alarm systems for nearly 20 years, and their latest Avital 5305L is no exception.

The one thing that really sets this alarm apart from the rest is its ability to integrate with your keyless entry system. So, for example, if you press any of the buttons on your car's door handle or fob, the vehicle will respond accordingly whether it be locking, unlocking, or simply opening the door.

This alarm also has a few different arming systems, one of which is your typical remote arm/disarm function that most alarms have. The other methods are the more interesting ones where you can use your keyless entry to arm or disarm the system or even activate it by simply touching the car's hood with your hand.

The best thing about this car alarm is that it provides an audible confirmation when you activate or deactivate the device. This helps prevent people from trying to trick you into thinking they've disarmed your alarm when in fact, they're still armed and ready to go.

The dual-zone shock sensors that come with this alarm system are also a nice feature, but the only problem is that they may be a bit too sensitive if you park your car in a garage or driveway. You can adjust the distance sensitivity of the sensors, but unfortunately, it isn't fully adjustable, which means some false alarms may occur.

Avital advertises the 5305L with a control range of 1500 ft, but that's only possible if there are no obstacles between the alarm and your car. In most cases, you'll get around 400 ft which is still plenty of distance to work with for this kind of system.

The 120 decibels siren on this alarm is also great. It's extremely loud and can be heard clearly even with the windows rolled down. It is also very fairly priced at just $130 on Amazon, making it a great value for the money.

The only downside I could see with this system was that the antenna requires some prior adjusting to get the maximum range. However, it's fairly easy to do so and shouldn't pose a problem for most people. It even has room for further upgradability with the option to install a GPS module that allows you to track your car if it ever gets stolen.

All in all, I really loved this car alarm system because it has some really interesting arming methods and a ton of other great features. It's also fairly easy to install, so you don't have to worry about being a professional mechanic when it comes time for installation. Everything is pretty much plug-and-play.

The Avital 5305L is now available on Amazon for $184.

Key Features

• 120 dB siren
• 2-way LCD remote
• Dual-zone impact sensors
• Fault-proof starter interrupt
• Nuisance prevention
• Key-less entry/remote start

Pros

• Durable construction
• Budget-friendly
• 2-way remote control for controlling the car remotely
• Integrated key-less entry
• Dual-zone impact sensors allow you to set different alarm settings for each side of your car
• Failsafe starter kill prevents thieves from hot-wiring your car after they disarm it
• Nuisance prevention keeps you from accidentally activating the system

Cons

• Lack of customer support
• Might not work with manual transmissions

4. Firstech DroneMobile X1 LTE

Listed as one of the best commercial-grade LTE GPS vehicle trackers on the market, this state-of-the-art device comes with everything you could need for full vehicle protection.

The Drone Mobile X1 is an all-in-one security system that connects to your car's engine control unit (ECU), allowing it to monitor your car's location and vital statistics.

It can also detect things like sudden deceleration, engine RPM, battery voltage, and even alarm triggers to give you the best possible protection. You can even receive SMS alerts on your phone if anything unusual happens with your car's vital stats or location.

One of the most unique features of this system is its ability to connect to your OBD II port and enable the "Valet Mode." You can lock out certain functions like speed or disable viewing of RPMs. If somebody takes your car for a ride without you knowing about it, DroneMobile will tell you exactly where they went and how fast they were going.

It can also send notifications to your smartphone if the car moves while it is parked where it shouldn't be. For example, if somebody breaks into your car and then tries to move it without turning on the engine, you will receive a notification through DroneMobile's mobile app.

This does have some drawbacks, however. For example, it lacks the deterrence that other traditional car alarm systems have, such as sirens and lights. Those can be a great visual deterrent for a would-be thief.

Another big drawback is that DroneMobile charges a subscription feeon top of the price of the actual device. This can become quite pricey for some people, so it's definitely something you should watch out for before choosing this system.

There have also been some reports of this system providing inaccurate tracking data, but, as far as I can tell, those reports are relatively rare.

Overall, this is a really good system if you're looking for commercial-grade security and don't mind the subscription fee. It's also great if you want to monitor your car remotely at all times.

Key Features

• Advanced GPS tracking with live mapping
• Impact sensors
• Commercial GPS vehicle tracker with tracking history
• Forced speed limiting and forced RPM limiting (Valet Mode)

Pros

• High-performance 3G/4G LTE connection for real-time alerts and data updates
• Mobile app notifications for tracking history or diagnostics alerts
• Commercial grade security

Cons

• May not work with manual transmissions
• Requires subscription for real-time tracking features
• May provide inaccurate location or sensor information at times

5. CRIMESTOPPER SP-502

One of the more affordable commercial-grade vehicle security systems on this list, the Crimestopper SP-502, is a great option if you're on a budget.

With 16 unique alarm triggers available and the ability to trigger your siren or horns, this system can keep up with even the most advanced car alarms. The SP-502 comes with two remotes with a range up to 3000 feet which is more than enough for most people.

The remote is simple with only five buttons but is one of the few systems on this list that actually requires you to press the "arm" button twice to activate it. This ensures that you won't accidentally arm your alarm system while carrying it in your pocket or purse.

The Crime Stopper even offers their own mobile connection known as Tele-connect. This allows you to set your alarm remotely, change siren settings and even arm/disarm the alarm without having a second remote.

It's also worth noting that the remote start feature can be used to warmup or cool down your car before you go back to it on those cold winter days.

As I mentioned earlier, good alarm systems should have many unique triggers. The SP-502 is no exception, with over 30 programmable options available. You can set it so that it's triggered by opening an attached garage door, disconnecting the battery, or even ripping

From what I can find, the only major downside to the SP-502 is the lack of insurance protection plans provided by the manufacturer; however, since it's a commercial-grade security system, that shouldn't be too big of an issue for most people.

Overall, you can't go wrong with this system if you're on a tight budget. It may not have all the features that more expensive systems have, but it provides a great set of core security features at a price that won't break the bank.

Key Features

• Builtin remote start
• Starter kill feature
• 3000 ft remote range
• Keyless entry
• 120 decibels siren

Pros

• Great value for money
• 3000 ft range on both remotes included (more than enough)
• Can be programmed to trigger siren/horns when activated
• Comes with optional security and anti-theft monitoring
• Remote start feature can warm-up or cool down your car before you go back

Cons

• No insurance protection plans
• Doesn't have all the bells and whistles of higher-end systems